New Ulm weekly review., 1887-09-14
MINNESOTA NEWS.
Minnesota State Prison Investigation.

Minnesota State Prison Investigation.
The State Prison Inspectors, with mem
bers of the State Board of Correction and
Charities, recently began at Saltwater an
investigation Of certain charges AGAINST
ex-Warden Reed. After hearing testimony
against Mr.. Reed the hearing was adjourned
to Sept. 15, to permit the defendantto get
certain witnesses and prepare for further
defense.
The charges, in substance. as made and
presented by Warden Stordock are: Selling
large quantities of lard and grease and
making no returns to the state for the
same; paying cigar bills by having the
same charged to Tobacco Fund.-" with
holding money from prisoners; mis-
appropriating a. J p money Of conyicts; lets
convicts and keeping it; allowing F. G. Cut
Ter merchant tailor) to make freedom
suits and taking large commission.
There is also one special charge. that Of
taking $50 from Andrew j ohnson, against
his consent. Also charge of criminal in
tercourse with q female inmate OF the pris-
on. The witnesses against the ex-warden
were Charles Huntser. colored, who mur-
dered his mistress, George McNeal
lAzilda Beaudry, from Canada, in prison
for life for killing her husband. said she
had intercourse with Reed in October and
November, 1886, and January, 1887, in
his room. Mrs. McNeal, matron of the
prison, George McNeal the hall guard and
Charles Hunster, an ex-prisoner, related
circumstances sustaining Mrs. Baudry s
estim ony.
p. Beardsley testified that he had pur-
chased tallow, ETC., from the prison, which
it is claimed was never accounted for to
the state. Hugh Mckenzie, ex-convict
testified that he was a helper in the cook
room and that supplies were taken there
to Warden Reeds house. Michael Gil
Leslie testified that he had hauled q bar
rel OF sugar from the depot to Reed s house.
J. NJ. Conrad, who furnished tobacco for
the prison, said that twice there was a
shortage OF caddys of tea, which was made
up Ill cigars. There was some other testi-
mon- OF the same sort.
Warden Stordock, the present warden,
said he made the charges against Mr.. Reed
and that were abstracts of statements
made to him by various parties. He said
he found that his predecessor had Just
about got his entire living out OF the pris-
on stores; also that others not entitled
or in part, out OF the state That some
twenty-five keys to the prison run in
the hands of parties not entitled to have
them; that Reed had sent his check for
Sl11.5O, on being informed that a memo
| randum had been made OF articles taken to
his house. Mr.. Stordock detailed at
length his various talks with Col.
Hicks and the other members OF
the board OF inspectors to show
how the present investigation was brought
about, and his motive in taking the part
he had in it. Col Hicks inves tigated the
matter with him and finally made his own
report OF the investigation to Gov. McGill.
This report and the request OF the board
OF inspectors led the governor to the APP
pointment OF the present investigating
committee. He described at great
length various other irregula rites
which took place under Reeds administra
ton. Stordock's cross examination was
almost entirely devoted to trying to show
that Warden Stordock was entirely insti-
gated by vindictive feelings.
Capt. J. A. Reed, ex-warden, testified:
Have heard the testimony of Azilda
Baudry, and I nevar had any improper re-
lations with her, so help me God. Neither
| have Ihad such relations with Mary Walsh
er or any other convict" Mr.. Reed abso-
lutely denied or fully explained all the. 9TH
| er charges, showing the motives OF some OF
the convicts, &c. Mrs. Reed, wife OF the
| ex-warden, denied in the most positive
manner the use OF any supplies belonging
to the state, without pay, or exch angc.
The testimony thus far heard is full oi
details, but shows the substance on both
sides. When the defense is heard on the
18th, there will be more OF the case.